It might almost be tough to remember now, but when Apple first launched CarPlay in 2014, it was a luxury feature. The first vehicle to get it was the Ferrari FF. And once halfway affordable options came out in 2015, automakers still sometimes reserved CarPlay for more expensive trims, putting it on par with installing a sunroof or a high-end audio system. It took a few more years before you could count on the technology being standard in models the average person could justify. Today, it's so widespread that many used cars are equipped with it.
Native interfaces are often clumsy
Who is this car designed for, exactly?
Too often, integrated software is awkwardly designed, requiring too many taps and swipes to get to the features you actually care about. Simply pairing a phone via Bluetooth can be a hassle, as I've discovered on multiple rental cars. Trying to use an older vehicle's built-in navigation system is an exercise in pointless frustration -- you're better off buying a vent mount and using your phone's own touchscreen.
For years, software was a secondary priority for automakers, practically an afterthought.
That makes sense, unfortunately. For years, software was a secondary priority for automakers, practically an afterthought. It's only in the wake of Apple and Tesla -- and the increasing popularity of EVs -- that they realized they needed to take software seriously. The overall situation is finally beginning to improve, but you may need to buy a newer model to see the benefits.
Compounding the situation is processor power, or rather the lack thereof. Some dash displays have enough juice to run their software, but not enough to do it smoothly, particularly if any 3D content is onscreen. In contrast, even an iPhone 13 should be able to run the iOS 26 version of CarPlay like butter. It's even slicker on my iPhone 16 Pro.
We want to use our apps, not yours
And switch between multiple drivers
Speaking of navigation apps, it's kind of ridiculous that any automaker thinks we want to use something other than Google Maps, Apple Maps, or maybe Waze. Those apps are inevitably better designed and more full-featured. Perhaps more importantly, they extend beyond the vehicle. If I've already marked my home, work, and other favorite locations on my phone or computer, I don't have to waste time searching for things or entering addresses when I'm in the driver's seat. Heck, I'll sometimes plot out a route on my iPhone shortly before turning on my car, allowing me to have directions ready the moment CarPlay launches.
CarPlay makes it possible for multiple drivers to switch between apps, settings, and saved locations with a few taps.
A variety of vehicles do come with Google Maps preloaded. These, however, continue to have another problem: multiple drivers. My wife and I share a single car, and we each have our own settings preferences and saved locations. CarPlay makes it possible for us to switch between them with a few taps, and it's usually worth waiting a few seconds while our car's Wi-Fi switches over.
There are also CarPlay apps that are rare or completely missing on most dash systems, such as Apple Podcasts. Certainly you're never going to find VLC preloaded on a car, given that it's focused on offline media libraries instead of radio or streaming.
The Apple ecosystem has its advantages
Convenience wins for the average consumer
This one has some dark overtones, since I don't like the idea of any company having a monopoly over my digital existence. Yet it's hard to deny that the deeper you are into the Apple ecosystem, the more attractive CarPlay becomes, largely because of the seamlessness I hinted at in the last section.
Consider this scenario: if I start a route in Apple Maps on my iPhone, it'll not only appear in CarPlay, but on my Apple Watch, which vibrates whenever there's an upcoming turn. That's very handy for long roadtrips when I'm struggling to stay alert or simply don't know an area. When I step out of my car, I'll either get a marked parking location, or continued walking directions on my wrist if I'm not quite at my destination. You can get reasonably close to this if you have Google Maps on both your iPhone and your Apple Watch, regardless of whether CarPlay's involved -- but one experience is clearly superior. watchOS 26 can even point you in the direction of Apple Maps locations with certain watchfaces.
It's hard to deny that the deeper you are into the Apple ecosystem, the more attractive CarPlay becomes, largely because of its seamlessness.
It gets even better if you have smart home accessories set up in Apple HomeKit. CarPlay will automatically display garage door controls when you're nearby, and the iOS 26 version of the interface includes optional widgets for other products, too. Vehicles without CarPlay are liable to be restricted to voice controls.
I do want Apple to open up its platforms to fair competition, for instance letting me get similar smartwatch features with Garmin and Google watches. Until then, though, I'm okay with being stuck in my rut.
CarPlay apps usually update a lot more frequently
New fixes and features, delivered promptly
This may not be such a big deal if you've got a vehicle with over-the-air update functions, but even then, you may still get more rapid software support with CarPlay. On top of Apple's own releases, third-party developers are constantly releasing new app updates -- they have to serve every iPhone owner, and compete with other apps to boot. That translates into a steady stream of bugfixes and security updates, with feature additions arriving as soon as possible. Refreshing apps specific to a single auto brand tends to rank low on a developer's priority list, especially if there's no rival to steal business from them there.
That translates into a steady stream of bugfixes and security updates, with feature additions arriving as soon as possible.
Most of the time, this gap (if any) doesn't matter much. When you're on the road, though, the effects of any software flaw can be amplified. A buggy interface might pose a dangerous distraction, and a crashed navigation app can leave you lost. If nothing else, there's the possibility of your smartphone having a feature that the same app on your car doesn't.
While I'm here, I would like to call out Apple for not making iOS more modular. The company can't update individual components at will -- it has to deliver a complete bundle every time something changes, which makes the platform less agile than some. If the CarPlay team were able to push out separate updates, there's no telling how far ahead the technology could pull.